A man who decided to take drugs to celebrate his 64th birthday got behind the wheel while still over the limit.
Richard Strudwick appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where he admitted driving above the specified drug limit.
The court heard from prosecutor Holly Postle, who said that at 11.30am on December 14, police stopped the Ford Puma that Strudwick was driving on the A47 at Walpole Highway.
Officers saw that Strudwick’s eyes were red and glazed and a drugs test showed that he had 800mcg of benzoylecgonine - a cocaine breakdown - per litre of blood. The legal limit to drive is 50mcg.
In mitigation, George Sorrell explained that Strudwick took the drugs to celebrate his birthday the day before.
“It’s a rather curious way to celebrate a birthday,” said Mr Sorrell.
Mr Sorrell told the court that his client suffers from a number of “serious health problems” including arthritis, COPD, asthma and thrombosis.
“The inevitable disqualification will cause him hardship. He does rely on his car, he cannot get around a deal on his own two feet,” the solicitorr added.
Strudwick, of Bradshaw Court in March, was disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay a fine of £80.
He will also pay a victim surcharge of £32 and court costs of £50.
